Last



P. S. JONES Aug. l, 1939.

LAST

-Filed May ll, 1938 ff Zfowfg Patented Aug. 1, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAST of Massachusetts Application May l1, 1938, Serial No; 207,369

2 Claims.

, My present invention is a novel and improved construction of last for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes, and is directed more particularly to protect and improve that portion where the last thimble is fitted and to protect the wood of the last from damage or injury.

Heretofore, in the construction of lasts it is customary to bore a thimble-receiving recess in the heel portion of the last and, thereupon, to fit within said recess a metal thimble which is wedged into the bored recess and usually fits solidly against the bottom of the bored opening. Thus, when the shoe is fitted on the pin of the last jack and the strains and stresses incident to heel-nailing, sole-leveling, or the like are belng performed on the shoe bottom and transmitted thru the-thimble and top or cone of the last to the jack considerable -pressure and strain is brought to bear upon these parts, often lIresulting in damaging the wood not only at the cone but also at the end or bottom of the bored recess in which the thimble is fitted.

In order to aid in withstanding these pressures and protect the Wood of the last, and in an effort to increase the life of the last, it has often been customary to fit in rivets or bolts entirely thru the last, both at the base of the thimble recess and at the rear of the thimble.

It has also been customary to t a protecting layer, or layers, on the top or cone of the last, such as fibre, leather, or the like.

In all these prior efforts to protect and strengthen the last around the thimble portion, considerable difficulty has been experienced and the various devices previously employed have been unsatisfactory in various ways. Thus, where a. yielding protecting layer across the top of the last was employed with the solid thimble, the protecting layers would yield and bring most of the strain on the thimble, which in turn would be wedged into the base of the recess.

My present invention contemplates a new and novel method of last and thimble protection which will enable the protecting layers on top of the last around the thimble and the thimble itself to each yield to the proportionate extent necessary in transmitting the strain, stresses, and blows to which the last is necessarily subjected during use.

I believe that my invention of double yielding capacity for both a protecting layer and thimble, thus fully cooperating and, furthermore, yielding proportionately so that each part can take up a proper part of the load'and strains transmitted therethru, is a distinct novelty in this art and results in greatly increasing the life of the last and preventing damage and injury to the Wood of the heel part.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a last with a protecting layer, or layers, on the top of 5 the cone, such as the usual combined fibre and leather protector top, and I arrange a thimble with capacity to yield with the yielding and cornpression of the protector top. Also I interlock the thimble with the protector top so that the l0 rst strains and stresses coming on the protector will be partly transmitted to the thimble, as Well as to the wood of the last, and as the protector top is still further compressed a fuller load will be picked up directly by the metal thimble itself, l5 which will then be in contact with the last jack, said thimble being arranged for independent yielding action, as Well as in combination with the yielding of the protector top, thus presenting the combinedresults of both the protector and 20 the yielding support for the thimble within the last thru which the strain, stresses, and blows are transmitted and dissipated.

Referring to the drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention, 25

Fig. l is a side View of my improved last;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional View of the heel portion.

While I have illustrated herein my invention 30 as applied to a typical type of hinge last, it will be appreciated that the invention may be embodied with equal advantage in any type of last, whether a hinge last, solid last, or block last, or indeed in any last construction wherein Va thim- 35 ble is fitted in the heel portion to enable the last to be applied to a last jack and pin.

As shown in the drawing, I illustrate a typical hinge last, usually made of rock maple, comprising a forepart l and a heel portion 2 united with 4o any suitable hinge construction on theaxis, or pivot, approximately as shown at 3. The heel part 2 is formed with a top or coneportion 5 considerably narrowed, as is customary, in accordance with the design or style of last construction, 45

on which a protector top of one or more layers, herein shown as two layers, viz. fibre l and leather 8, which are usually glued or united together and secured to the cone of the last by a plurality of nails or screws 9 9. 50

In the heel portion is bored a thimble-receiving recess I0, and a corresponding aperture I2 to register with the recess I0 is provided in the layers of the protector top. In my invention I form this opening I2 in the protector top of less di- 55 ameter than that of the thimble-receiving recess I0, and I provide a novel thimble I5 having its outer diameter adapted to fit slidingly the recess I0, and with a reduced part and shoulder portion I5 to t in the opening I2, thus providing an interlocking construction between the protector layers and the thimble I5.

Also I form the opening I0 of greater depth than the length of the thimble I5 and t in the bottom of the recess Ill a coiled expansible spring I8 adapted to bear upon the bottom of the thimble I5 Preferably, also I may t a metal washer 20 in the bottom of the recess I0 to act as a bearing member for the end of the spring I8 opposite to the thimble-contacting end.

As thus constructed and arranged, it will be appreciated that the combined resilience of the protector top and layers and spring I8 will act to cushion the blows, strains, and stresses necessariu ly transmitted thru the bottom of the last to the jack on which it rests during heel-nailing, soleleveling, and the like operations, so that the entire wood portion of the heel is yieldingly sustained both at the top or cone 5 and at the bottom of the thimble recess. Therefore, the Wood in the heel portion is protected against damaging blows, and a cushioning construction thru the protector top and thru the thimble is afforded.

While I prefer to employ a cushioning member for the thimble, such as the coiled spring I8, it might be feasible to utilize a block of rubber or any other yielding and supporting cushioning means.

The feature o-f the shoulder I6 is most important as it enables the thimble to slide in interlocking cooperation with the protector and under the tension of the spring I8.

Furthermore, the thimble is held against being displaced by the spring I8 thru this interlocking construction of the protector top bearing on the shoulder I6. Also, it facilitates the assembling operations. v'Ihe washer 20 is preferably first tted in the bottom of the recess I0 and thereupon the coiled spring I8 or other cushioning member is dropped into position and the thimble I5 applied; whereupon the protector top is fitted over the reduced open end of the thimble I5 until the same bears on the shoulder I6, whereupon the spring I8 may be compressed during the further itting of the protector top to the last by driving down the fastening means, such as nails or the screws 9, as illustrated.

The importance and desirability of my improved last construction with yielding and cushioning means, both for the top of the last and the thimble, which furthermore are interlocked to cooperate in eecting such cushioning action, will be readily appreciated by thoseskilled in this art.

I claim:

1. An improved last having in combination a yielding protecting member and yielding thimblesupporting means, in combination with an interlocking construction between said thimble an the protector.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a

thimble for fitting in the heel portions of lasts,

comprising a tubular portion of suitable diameter to t the thimble-receiving recess in the last, and a portion reduced in diameter at the top of the thimble, in combination with a protector member at the top of the last adapted to engage said reduced portion.

PAUL S. JONES. 

